Suicidal behavior among patients in the VA health care system

• Published in: Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 46; no. 10; p. 1069
• Main Authors: Lehmann, L, McCormick, R A, McCracken, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-10-1995
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cause of Death; Combat Disorders - mortality; Combat Disorders - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hospitals, Veterans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Inpatients - psychology; Inpatients - statistics & numerical data; Male; Mental Disorders - mortality; Mental Disorders - psychology; Middle Aged; Outpatients - psychology; Outpatients - statistics & numerical data; Suicide - prevention & control; Suicide - psychology; Suicide - statistics & numerical data; Suicide, Attempted - prevention & control; Suicide, Attempted - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data; United States - epidemiology; Veterans - psychology; Veterans - statistics & numerical data; United States
• ISSN: 1075-2730
• DOI: 10.1176/ps.46.10.1069

A total of 167 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers responded to a survey that sought information on suicidal behavior during a one-year period among patients in inpatient or outpatient treatment. Of 248 completed suicides during the period, about 60 percent occurred among patients in outpatient mental health treatment. The incidence of anxiety disorder diagnoses (17.7 percent), particularly posttraumatic stress disorder, among patients who completed suicide was much higher than that reported for persons who completed suicide in the general population. Many patients with psychiatric diagnoses who completed suicide had comorbid substance abuse diagnoses.